The Polishing Efficacy of Three Different Polishing Systems on a Nanocomposite: An in Vitro Optical Profilometric Study

  

  Arun Mathew Thomas , Arvind Kumar , R. Jonathan Emil Sam

   DOI : https://doi.org/

 Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of three different polishing systems, namely PoGo (Dentsply), Optrapol (Ivoclar), and Soflex (3M), on the surface roughness of a nanocomposite material (Filtek Z350, 3M) using an Optical Profilometer (Talysurf CLI 1000). The polishing systems used in this study were a one-step polishing system, PoGo with fine diamond particles, and Optrapol, which is a mixture of silicones, and a multi-step polishing system, Soflex, containing disks of different gradations with aluminum oxide particles. The restorative material used in this study was a nanofill composite (Filtek Z350, 3M). A total of 40 samples were fabricated using a stainless steel mold (10mm in diameter and 2mm thick) to standardize the samples. The samples were then covered with a mylar strip and pressed flat against a glass slab to extrude excess material and obtain a flat surface. Except for the mylar strip group, the other groups were wet ground with a 320 grit silicone carbide paper on a metallurgical finishing wheel before using the polishing system. The samples were then subdivided into four groups, each under a different polishing system. These samples were then subjected to surface roughness analysis using a three-dimensional Profilometer (Talysurf CLI 1000). Results showed that Group IV (Soflex) exhibited the lowest surface roughness (Ra), while Group III (Optrapol) showed higher Ra values in the nanocomposite tested. Group I (Mylar strip) showed the least surface roughness value in the nanocomposite used. In conclusion, although the smoothest surface was obtained with a multi-step (Soflex) polishing system, the one-step (Optrapol) polishing produced a clinically acceptable finish within a relatively short polishing time.

 Keywords

Polishing Efficacy, Three Polishing Systems, Nanocomposite, Optical Profilometry, Surface Roughness Analysis.

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